Baby showers are supposed to be fun. Actually, that’s a lie. Baby showers are usually lame, but this one was different. There was music and pizza, exotic salads and Garret’s popcorn. Most importantly, there was plenty of alcohol and yellow cake, which we all needed, after the week in American history that brought us President-Elect... Read more »

Maybe it was the unusually dark overcast hanging over the city that day, but I couldn’t shake the angst building in my stomach. My sister told me not to put it into the universe, and maybe I wouldn’t have under less severe circumstances. For months, I tried to believe it. I tried to imagine it.... Read more »

Before you say #AllLivesMatter… I’ve honestly never understood overly optimistic people. You know, the sort of people who can look upon their burning home and say, “As long as I have a few mighty oak trees left, I can build me another home tomorrow.” I have often suspected that this strange lot are also the... Read more »

Before I begin, there are a few things you should know. 1.) I am Black. But since Black people are not a monolithic group, telling you my race really tells you nothing about me. We are a people of many shades, dialects, educational attainments, and hair styles. That being said, you would have stereotyped correctly... Read more »

The interracial experience is something, as a child, I observed from afar with a slight sense of envy. Children born into this life, intimately experiencing the best of many cultures, felt like an advantage that only a select few were chosen to have. With their curls so fluffy and mine so tight, growing up I... Read more »

Though Indian Americans are the third largest Asian group in the United States, they comprise of only 1% of the United States population. As (statistically) one of the wealthiest ethnic communities in the country, I wanted to profile an Indian American to learn how I, too, might become rich. (Yes, I’m kidding.) As I challenged... Read more »

Like most things revolutionary in my life – such as sushi and indie house bands – I was introduced to Dr. Ann Aviles de Bradley through my older sister. However, as soon as I learned of her vast work and research advocating for homeless youth within the Chicago Public School system, I quickly wanted... Read more »

Full Disclosure: I respect William. In an old-school, southern boy twice-removed sort of way, he reminds me a lot of my dad. While I initially hesitated in interviewing two Black men back-to-back, I thought that William’s perspective was both timely and needed. As the nation continues to try to figure out what to do with... Read more »

Here is a reality that was tough for me to accept: Writers come a dime a million. Good writers come a dime a hundred. Successful writers? That’s usually where the math gets a little tricky. Why is this the case? It’s because everyone believes they are a writer. The guy at the register at the gas... Read more »

A week ago, I ran into a woman who I consider to be a distant friend. I’m Black, she is White. I’m in my thirties and I estimate that my friend is somewhere in her forties. She is a fierce advocate of public education, and I am a strong supporter of her work. She pursued... Read more »

Meet The Blogger

Kay S

Kay Smith is a Chicago-based freelance writer and blogger who focuses on race, politics and urban culture. Having worked on public policy at the state, regional, city and community level, her opinions have been featured in the Chicago SunTimes and a host of news websites (under very mysterious sounding pseudonyms). Follow her on Twitter @kaywillsmith or contact her at kaywilliamsmith@gmail.com.